Many of us remember that special feeling of having our parents, older siblings or teachers read to us. As part of its One District One Book effort, the Little Rock School District is highlighting reading, tying it to a lesson in financial literacy. Beginning Friday, April 28, all 13,000 plus LRSD K-5 students will be enjoying the same book, The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. The book focuses on a brother and sister whose sibling rivalry pits them against each other in a little friendly competition to see who can outdo the other in a lemonade war. To help us launch this district-wide initiative, we have enlisted the help of some celebrity readers. They are lending their voices to this powerful movement supporting reading. Click on the links below this article to hear from our celebrity readers.

(A Spanish version of The Lemonade War videos will be uploaded soon.)

The kick-off on Friday will feature simultaneous assemblies at each elementary school with LRSD Superintendent Mike Poore sharing a video message to students and teachers. Parents are encouraged to join their students during this month-long effort by reading the book with them in the evenings and on weekends. Research indicates that “children who are read to learn to read more easily and become better readers. Literacy skills provide the basis for a lifetime of learning and productivity.”

Parents are also encouraged to make their own “Lemonade War” videos and take photos, uploading them to Facebook and/or Twitter, using the hashtag #LRSD1District1Book (with lemon emoji – no space - at the end of the hastag). Facebook fans and Twitter followers will then be asked to vote on their favorite photo/video. The winning entry will be recognized from the stage during the closing Lemonade War celebration on the lawn of the Clinton Center, 1200 President Clinton Avenue, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, May 20. More information about the closing celebration will shared in a separate post.